Talent Shines in Children’s Environmental Awards

Artistic talent shines in children’s environmental awards

Artistic talent shines in Bay of Plenty children.

More than 400 students produced an amazing range of artwork based on environmental themes for this year’s Environmental Art Awards, sponsored by Environment Bay of Plenty.

Helen Lees

Now in its seventh year, the awards attracted entries from primary, intermediate and junior high school students, plus home school children, from all over the Bay of Plenty. And, according to Helen Lees, the Manawahe-based artist who is judging the awards, they include a large number of “very skilful and original works”.

That made judging quite difficult, she says. “There is a obviously a lot of talent in the Bay of Plenty”, she says

When judging, Ms Lees considered aspects like originality, skilfulness and use of colour. Most importantly, she also assessed how artworks reflected this year’s theme of “Our places – Our stories – Nga whakanikoniko o te Ao Tawhito – the strands of our history woven into the tapestry of our heritage”.

Environment Bay of Plenty environmental education officer Esther Mae says a wide variety of media was used by entrants, from sketching to screen printing and block work. She wants to congratulate all schools and students that took part. “They all did really really well,” she says.

Prize winners will be announced on Friday 10 October, after students return to school. Winning and highly commended entries will be displayed at venues in Tauranga, Whakatane and Rotorua in November.

CAPTION: Artist Helen Lees with some of the artworks in Environment Bay of Plenty’s environmental art awards. Winners will be announced later in October.